Review
Pediatrics
Matti Korppi
Summary: A review of 331 BCG osteitis cases globally reported between 1976 and 2012, with Finnish cases making up two-thirds of the total. Incidence rates in Finnish infants were higher compared to Taiwanese infants, with good outcomes after surgery and chemotherapy. Deviations in innate immunity raise questions about genetic factors.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Emmelie Eckhardt, Jan Schinkoethe, Marcel Gischke, Julia Sehl-Ewert, Bjorn Corleis, Anca Dorhoi, Jens Teifke, Dirk Albrecht, Annemieke Geluk, Martine Gilleron, Max Bastian
Summary: The study demonstrates the significant role of CD1b-restricted DURTs in immune control of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and suggests that the PIM6 vaccine can reduce pathology and bacterial load after infection.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Review
Microbiology
Esma Mouhoub, Pilar Domenech, Momar Ndao, Michael B. Reed
Summary: Live attenuated Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine is widely used for preventing tuberculosis, but has also shown protection against other pathogens. Recombinant BCG technology has been used to create vaccines that elicit immunity against bacterial, viral, and parasitic diseases. This review aims to provide an overview of rBCG-based vaccines targeting infectious diseases other than TB.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Wei Huang, Nan-Chang Chiu, Hsin Chi, Fu-Yuan Huang, Ching-Ying Huang
Summary: A study on BCG vaccine adverse reactions found that osteitis/osteomyelitis occurred less frequently when vaccination was done after 5 months of age, but injection site reactions and lymphadenitis were more common, with shorter onset durations of mild adverse reactions observed in older vaccinees above 5 months of age.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Kent J. Koster, Hilary L. Webb, Jeffrey D. Cirillo
Summary: BCG vaccination, widely used for protection against tuberculosis and providing non-specific protection against infectious respiratory diseases, has seen renewed interest in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite its benefits, the United States does not recommend BCG vaccination due to variable effectiveness against adult TB and other factors.
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Consuelo E. Covarrubias, Thomas A. Rivera, Catalina A. Soto, Trevor Deeks, Alexis M. Kalergis
Summary: The manufacture of pharmaceutical products must comply with GMP guidelines to ensure high-quality production processes, safe products for human use, and a positive impact on public health. The COVID-19 pandemic highlights the importance of having more and better-distributed manufacturing plants.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Jingli Du, Yue Su, Ruilan Wang, Enjun Dong, Yan Cao, Wenjuan Zhao, Wenping Gong
Summary: BCG is the only approved vaccine for tuberculosis prevention worldwide, and it has shown excellent protection against miliary tuberculosis and tuberculous meningitis in children. Studies have found that BCG vaccination can induce immune responses to fight against other respiratory pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2. It is hypothesized that BCG-induced trained immunity might protect against COVID-19 infection.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Susan Martins Pereira, Florisneide Rodrigues Barreto, Ramon Andrade de Souza, Carlos Antonio de Souza Teles Santos, Marcos Pereira, Enny Santos da Paixao, Carla Cristina Oliveira de Jesus Lima, Marcio Santos da Natividade, Ana Angelica Bulcao Portela Lindoso, Eder Gatti Fernandes, Evonio Barros Campelo Campelo Junior, Julia Moreira Pescarini, Kaio Vinicius Freitas de Andrade, Fernanda Mattos de Souza, Elisangela Alves de Britto, Ceuci Nunes, Maria Yuri Ichihara, Margareth Dalcolmo, Anete Trajman, Manoel Barral-Netto, Ibrahim Abubakar, Mauricio Lima Barreto, Ricardo Arraes de Alencar Ximenes, Laura Cunha Rodrigues
Summary: This study investigated the association between previous BCG vaccination and the severity of COVID-19 clinical progression. The results showed that BCG vaccination was highly protective against clinical progression of COVID-19, especially in individuals aged 60 or younger.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Peter Aaby, Mihai G. Netea, Christine S. Benn
Summary: Live attenuated vaccines may provide beneficial non-specific effects against vaccine-unrelated infections. Understanding these effects has been studied in children, but research on adults and older adults is of interest. This article proposes a framework for analyzing the non-specific effects of live attenuated vaccines against pandemic potential infections, highlighting endpoints, revaccination, coadministration, vaccine sequence, immune response modification, and subgroup analysis by sex.
LANCET INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Bhupendra Singh Rawat, Deepak Kumar, Vijay Soni, Eric H. Rosenn
Summary: Metabolomics is a useful tool for understanding immunometabolism and developing effective therapies. It can provide valuable insights into the impact of immune metabolism on diseases and vaccinations. By integrating with other biology tools, metabolomics can enhance treatment outcomes and control drug-resistant strains.
Article
Immunology
Chun Jye Lim, Phuong Hoang Diem Nguyen, Martin Wasser, Pavanish Kumar, Yun Hua Lee, Nurul Jannah Mohamed Nasir, Camillus Chua, Liyun Lai, Sharifah Nur Hazirah, Josh Jie Hua Loh, Li Yan Khor, Joe Yeong, Tony Kiat Hon Lim, Alvin Wei Xiang Low, Salvatore Albani, Tsung Wen Chong, Valerie Chew
Summary: This study identified immune subset changes and gene expression features associated with BCG treatment by analyzing patient blood and tissue samples. It also found that baseline densities of non-Treg and CD8(+)PD-1(+) T cells were predictive of response and recurrence-free survival after BCG. Furthermore, the study revealed predictive biomarkers for response and resistance mechanisms to BCG.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Vipin M. Vashishtha
Summary: The world is facing a pandemic of COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2, with vaccination being the key prevention measure. BCG vaccine may play a positive role in reducing the incidence and mortality of COVID-19.
HUMAN VACCINES & IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Leontine van Balveren, Eugene P. van Puijenbroek, Linda Davidson, Florence van Hunsel
Summary: Reactivation of BCG scar is observed after COVID-19 vaccination with mRNA and viral vector vaccines, characterized by erythema and pain within a few days. The exact mechanism remains unknown, but heat shock protein 65 may be involved.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Virology
Sara M. Ahmed, Mohamed A. Nasr, Shimaa E. Elshenawy, Alaa E. Hussein, Ahmed H. El-Betar, Rania Hassan Mohamed, Nagwa El-Badri
Summary: The BCG vaccine enhances the immune response of monocytes against SARS-CoV-2, but may not be sufficient to prevent infection.
Review
Oncology
M. J. Reike, M. A. Ingersoll, D. C. Mueller, T. C. M. Zuiverloon, T. Strandgaardf, A. M. Kamat, S. B. Williams, R. Seiler, T. Todenhoefer, L. Dyrskjot, R. Nawroth, P. Goebell, B. Schmitz-Draeger, J. P. Sfakianos, J. Meeks, A. Horowitz, P. C. Black
Summary: BCG remains the first-line therapy for high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer patients approved by the FDA, but recurrence rate is high and second-line treatments are not highly effective. Therefore, early identification of patients likely to recur and treatment after recurrence remain critical unmet needs in the clinical care of bladder cancer patients.
UROLOGIC ONCOLOGY-SEMINARS AND ORIGINAL INVESTIGATIONS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Frederik Schaltz-Buchholzer, Peter Aaby, Isaquel Silva, Ivan Monteiro, Tobias R. Kollmann, Nelly Amenyogbe, Morten Bjerregaard-Andersen, Christine Stabell Benn
Summary: This study suggests that maternal BCG vaccine may be associated with reduced overall NICU mortality rate in newborns.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Pediatrics
Janne Weis, Sanne Allermann Beck, Andreas Jensen, Anne Brodsgaard, Jos M. M. Latour, Gorm Greisen
Summary: In this study, a Danish version of the EMPATHIC-N questionnaire was translated and validated, and its psychometric properties were assessed. The shorter version of the questionnaire showed better model fit and reliability.
Review
Pediatrics
Mohamed El-Dib, Nicholas S. J. Abend, Topun Austin, Geraldine Boylan, Valerie Chock, M. Roberta Cilio, Gorm Greisen, Lena Hellstroem-Westas, Petra Lemmers, Adelina Pellicer, Ronit Pressler, Arnold Sansevere, Tammy Tsuchida, Sampsa Vanhatalo, Courtney J. Wusthoff
Summary: The development of neonatal neurocritical care in the past decade has shown significant progress in neuromonitoring and neuroprotection. Commonly used brain monitoring tools in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) include amplitude integrated EEG (aEEG), full multichannel continuous EEG (cEEG), and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). However, there is no consensus on the consistent and efficient use of these modalities in common NICU scenarios. This review summarizes current evidence for the best utilization of neuromonitoring modalities in neonates with encephalopathy or possible seizures.
PEDIATRIC RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Pediatrics
Mohamed El-Dib, Nicholas S. Abend, Topun Austin, Geraldine Boylan, Valerie Chock, M. Roberta Cilio, Gorm Greisen, Lena Hellstrom-Westas, Petra Lemmers, Adelina Pellicer, Ronit M. Pressler, Arnold Sansevere, Eniko Szakmar, Tammy Tsuchida, Sampsa Vanhatalo, Courtney J. Wusthoff
Summary: Neonatal intensive care has shifted focus from cardiorespiratory care to a holistic approach that emphasizes brain health. The most commonly used tools in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to monitor brain function and physiology are amplitude-integrated EEG, full multichannel continuous EEG, and near-infrared spectroscopy. Each of these tools has unique characteristics and functions, but there is no consensus on the optimal approach to neuromonitoring in the NICU. This review examines current evidence to guide the use of these neuromonitoring tools for neuroprotective care in extremely premature infants and critically ill neonates.
PEDIATRIC RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Louise Faurholt Obro, Palle Jorn Sloth Osther, Jette Ammentorp, Gitte Thybo Pihl, Peter Gall Krogh, Charlotte Handberg
Summary: Research shows that combining mHealth and health coaching can improve patients' well-being. Nurse coaches play a significant role in interpreting patients' tracked data. However, integrating mHealth may lead to conflicting expectations for nurse coaches.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Louise Laub Asserhoj, Ikram Mizrak, Gerda Ferja Heldarskard, Tine Dalsgaard Clausen, Eva R. Hoffmann, Gorm Greisen, Katharina M. Main, Per Lav Madsen, Rikke Beck Jensen, Anja Pinborg
Summary: The study found that BMI in childhood does not differ between children conceived after frozen embryo transfer (FET), fresh embryo transfer (fresh-ET), or natural conception (NC). Previous studies have shown that high childhood BMI is strongly associated with obesity, cardiometabolic disease, and mortality in adulthood. Children conceived after FET have a higher risk of being born large for gestational age (LGA), which is associated with an increased risk of childhood obesity. The study suggests that ART-induced epigenetic variations may influence fetal size at birth as well as BMI and health later in life.
HUMAN REPRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Mathias L. Hansen, Adelina Pellicer, Simon Hyttel-Srensen, Ebru Ergenekon, Tomasz Szczapa, Cornelia Hagmann, Gunnar Naulaers, Jonathan Mintzer, Monica Fumagalli, Gabriel Dimitriou, Eugene Dempsey, Jakub Tkaczyk, Guoqiang Cheng, Siv Fredly, Anne M. Heuchan, Gerhard Pichler, Hans Fuchs, Saudamini Nesargi, Gitte H. Hahn, Salvador Piris-Borregas, Jan Sirc, Miguel Alsina-Casanova, Martin Stocker, Hilal Ozkan, Kosmas Sarafidis, Andrew O. Hopper, Tanja Karen, Beata Rzepecka-Weglarz, Serife S. Oguz, Luis Arruza, Asli C. Memisoglu, Ruth del Rio Florentino, Mariana Baserga, Pierre Maton, Anita C. Truttmann, Isabel de las Cuevas, Peter Agergaard, Pamela Zafra, Lars Bender, Ryszard Lauterbach, Chantal Lecart, Julie de Buyst, Afif El-Khuffash, Anna Curley, Olalla O. Vaccarello, Jan Miletin, Evangelia Papathoma, Zachary Vesoulis, Giovanni Vento, Luc Cornette, Laura S. Lopez, Beril Yasa, Anja Klamer, Massimo Agosti, Olivier Baud, Emmanuele Mastretta, Merih Cetinkaya, Karen McCall, Shujuan Zeng, Eleftheria Hatzidaki, Agata Bargiel, Sylwia Marciniak, Xiaoyan Gao, Lin Huijia, Lina Chalak, Ling Yang, Shashidhar A. Rao, Xin Xu, Begona L. Gonzalez, Maria Wilinska, Zhaoqing Yin, Iwona Sadowska-Krawczenko, Itziar Serrano-Vinuales, Barbara Krolak-Olejnik, Marta M. Ybarra, Catalina Morales-Betancourt, Peter Korcek, Marta Teresa-Palacio, Fabio Mosca, Anja Hergenhan, Nilgun Koksal, Konstantia Tsoni, Munaf M. Kadri, Claudia Knoepfli, Elzbieta Rafinska-Wazny, Mustafa S. Akin, Tone Nordvik, Zhang Peng, Sinem G. Kersin, Liesbeth Thewissen, Ana Alarcon, David Healy, Berndt Urlesberger, Muenevver Bas, Jana Baumgartner, Eleni Skylogianni, Veronika Karadyova, Eva Valverde, Elena Bergon-Sendin, Jachym Kucera, Silvia Pisoni, Le Wang, Anne Smits, Rebeca Sanchez-Salmador, Marie I. Rasmussen, Markus H. Olsen, Aksel K. Jensen, Christian Gluud, Janus C. Jakobsen, Gorm Greisen
Summary: A multicenter, randomized trial found that treatment guided by cerebral oximetry monitoring for the first 72 hours after birth did not reduce the risk of death or severe brain injury at 36 weeks' postmenstrual age in extremely preterm infants.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Andreas Jensen, Gorm Greisen, Thomas Hjuler, Lone Graff Stensballe
Summary: This study aimed to assess the utilization of surgery in Danish children aged 0-5 years from 1999 to 2018. The results showed that the overall incidence of surgical procedures did not increase during this period. It was also found that boys underwent more surgery than girls, and the rate of surgery decreased in public hospitals but increased in private specialist practices among children with severe chronic disease.
Review
Infectious Diseases
Christine S. Benn, Peter Aaby
Summary: Measles vaccine may have beneficial effects beyond preventing measles infection, possibly due to measles-induced immune amnesia or beneficial non-specific immune training effects. Epidemiological studies support the hypothesis of immune amnesia, but there are also contradictory observations.
JOURNAL OF INFECTION
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Anne Marie Rosendahl Madsen, Frederik Schaltz-Buchholzer, Sebastian Nielsen, Thomas Benfield, Morten Bjerregaard-Andersen, Lars Skov Dalgaard, Christine Dam, Sisse Bolm Ditlev, Gulia Faizi, Mihnaz Azizi, Zainab Nadhim Hameed, Isik Somuncu Johansen, Poul-Erik Kofoed, Tyra Grove Krause, Gitte Schultz Kristensen, Ellen Christine Leth Loekkegaard, Christian Backer Mogensen, Libin Mohamed, Emilie Sundhaugen Oedegaard, Anne Ostenfeld, Marcus Kjaer Soerensen, Christian Wejse, Mihai G. Netea, Peter Aaby, Christine Stabell Benn
Summary: In a randomized clinical trial among Danish health care workers, BCG vaccination had no overall effect on absenteeism, COVID-19 incidence, hospitalization risk, or self-reported infectious diseases. BCG revaccination was associated with increased COVID-19 incidence, but reduced hospitalization risk.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Pediatrics
Charlotte Carina Holm-Hansen, Stine Lund, Tine Bruhn Skytte, Jil Molenaar, Christina Nadia Steensgaard, Ulfat Amour Mohd, Said Mzee, Said Mouhammed Ali, Jesper Kjaergaard, Gorm Greisen, Jette Led Sorensen, Anja Poulsen
Summary: The aim of this study was to assess risk factors for neonatal mortality, quality of neonatal resuscitation, and identify areas for improvement. The study found significant deviations from guidelines in the quality of care for neonatal resuscitation, despite 87.5% of health workers being trained in this area. The videos provided direct evidence of gaps in care and highlighted the need for future education in effective positive pressure ventilation.
PEDIATRIC RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Pediatrics
Anne Mette Plomgaard, Nathan Stevenson, James A. Roberts, Tue Hvass Petersen, Sampsa Vanhatalo, Gorm Greisen, SafeBoosC-II study group
Summary: Automated computational measures of EEG in extremely preterm infants were found to be predictive of neurodevelopmental impairment at 2 years of age. The association between EEG measures and neurodevelopment in childhood was confirmed in this study, and the measure appears to be robust to differences in electrodes, amplifiers, and filters.
PEDIATRIC RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Maria Linander Vestager, Mathias Luehr Hansen, Marie Isabel Rasmussen, Gitte Holst Hahn, Simon Hyttel-Sorensen, Adelina Pellicer, Anne Marie Heuchan, Cornelia Hagmann, Eugene Dempsey, Gabriel Dimitriou, Gerhard Pichler, Gunnar Naulaers, Hans Fuchs, Jakub Tkaczyk, Jonathan Mintzer, Monica Fumagalli, Saudamini Nesargi, Siv Fredly, Tomasz Szczapa, Christian Gluud, Janus Christian Jakobsen, Gorm Greisen
Summary: The SafeBoosC-IIIv trial aims to evaluate the benefits and harms of cerebral oximetry added to usual care versus usual care in mechanically ventilated newborns. This randomized clinical trial, involving 3000 participants from multiple countries, will assess outcomes such as mortality rate and neurodevelopmental disabilities. The findings from this study will provide important guidance for neonatal intensive care and treatment of brain injuries.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Marie Isabel Rasmussen, Mathias Luhr Hansen, Adelina Pellicer, Christian Gluud, Eugene Dempsey, Jonathan Mintzer, Simon Hyttel-Sorensen, Anne Marie Heuchan, Cornelia Hagmann, Ebru Ergenekon, Gabriel Dimitriou, Gerhard Pichler, Gunnar Naulaers, Guoqiang Cheng, Jakub Tkaczyk, Hans Fuchs, Monica Fumagalli, Saudamini Nesargi, Siv Fredly, Tomasz Szczapa, Anne Mette Plomgaard, Bo Molholm Hansen, Janus Christian Jakobsen, Gorm Greisen
Summary: The SafeBoosC-III follow-up study aims to assess mortality, neurodevelopmental disability, or any harm in trial participants at 2 years of corrected age. The lack of funding for trial-specific assessment local costs is a challenge that needs to be addressed.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Liv Borch-Johnsen, Caroline Gren, Stine Lund, Fredrik Folke, Morten Schroder, Marianne Sjolin Frederiksen, Freddy Lippert, Annette Kjaer Ersboll, Gorm Greisen, Dina Cortes
Summary: This study assessed the effectiveness and safety of video tutorials in caring for acutely ill children. The results showed that video tutorials significantly increased caregivers' self-efficacy, reduced the need for telephone triage, and resulted in fewer hospital assessments for children.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Hongjin Li, Judith M. Schlaeger, Crystal L. Patil, Oana Danciu, Zhengjia Chen, Natalie Lif, Shuang Gao, Ardith Z. Doorenbos
Summary: Nearly 94% of breast cancer survivors experience symptoms or side effects during or after endocrine therapy, and acupuncture offers a comprehensive solution to address these issues. However, medically underserved breast cancer survivors often lack access to acupuncture. To promote equal access and evidence-based treatment, a randomized controlled trial is being conducted to investigate the effectiveness of acupuncture for symptom management among this population.
CONTEMPORARY CLINICAL TRIALS
(2024)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
JoAnn M. Sperl-Hillen, Jacob L. Haapala, Steven P. Dehmer, Lilian N. Chumba, Heidi L. Ekstrom, Anjali R. Truitt, Stephen E. Asche, Ann M. Werner, Dan J. Rehrauer, Melissa A. Pankonin, Pamala A. Pawloski, Patrick J. O'Connor
Summary: This article describes the original and adapted protocols of a randomized trial to improve medication adherence for cardiometabolic conditions. Protocol adaptation became imperative in response to major implementation challenges.
CONTEMPORARY CLINICAL TRIALS
(2024)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Connor Celum, Bethany Jablonski Horton, Mark Conaway
Summary: This paper proposes a phase-I clinical trial design that uses ordinal toxicity to locate group-specific doses. The proposed method avoids dose-reversals and is compared with two other methods through simulations.
CONTEMPORARY CLINICAL TRIALS
(2024)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Tanya Knutzen, Eileen Bulger, Matt Iles-Shih, Alexandra Hernandez, Allison Engstrom, Lauren Whiteside, Navneet Birk, Khadija Abu, Jake Shoyer, Cristina Conde, Paige Ryan, Jin Wang, Joan Russo, Patrick Heagerty, Larry Palinkas, Douglas Zatzick
Summary: This study aims to investigate how trauma centers in the US can effectively conduct mental health screening, intervention, and referral services to help injured patients recover. The study will randomly assign patients to different intervention groups and compare the impact of different interventions on PTSD symptoms and emergency department/inpatient utilization.
CONTEMPORARY CLINICAL TRIALS
(2024)